Senior Care Options

When you begin searching for senior living options, you will likely become overwhelmed by the options out there–and to complicate the situation further, the options are determined by the physical and mental health of the senior in question. To help you begin the journey, we have created a quick questionnaire to help you identify which senior living option best fits your current needs. The results of the questionnaire can then guide you on the right path for finding care.

Independent Living

For seniors who are still active and capable of caring for themselves, independent living is a good fit for their lifestyle. And oftentimes, joining an independent living or continuing care community will further enhance their lifestyle because at these communities, responsibilities such as housekeeping, meal preparation, and driving, are handled by the community's staff. Many communities also have a robust activities program that offers outings, volunteer opportunities and classes which allow residents to remain active. Communities usually offer either apartments or freestanding cottages as housing options.

To help you start your search for independent living, these community types offer independent living services:

Assisted Living

Seniors who are still capable of dressing themselves or maybe heating soup in the microwave, albeit a bit slower and perhaps with a bit of prompting, are a good fit for needing assisted living. In these types of communities, residents retain all their independence but there is a supportive system in place for them to receive assistance with activities of daily living when needed. And with 24-hour caregiving staff on site, families can be assured that assistance is always at hand. At these communities, staff handle all of life's responsibilities including meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry and driving. Depending upon the size of the community, housing options are either apartments or private suites (in the case of care homes).

To help you start your search for assisted living, these community types offer assisted living services:

Memory Care

When a senior is diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia, he/she requires memory care. While some communities offer both assisted living and memory care services, more communities are now solely providing memory care so their residents can enjoy a better quality of life. These communities are often designed to be light-filled and painted with soothing colors to reduce stress and assisted in way-finding; they also secured to prevent wandering. Housing options are private or semiprivate suites.

To help you start your search for memory care, these community types offer memory care services:

Long-Term Care

When seniors require long-term care or skilled nursing services, a nursing home is the type of community they need to join. Skilled care includes nursing and rehabilitation therapy (physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy) that is prescribed following a hospital stay because of an injury or illness. While some nursing homes may also offer assisted living or memory care services, they primarily serve seniors who are unable to care for themselves.

To help you start your search for long-term care, these community types offer nursing services: